Save As Shortcut Key for Windows and Mac (Word, Excel, and More)
You fix a report, press save, and then the cold feeling hits. The old version is gone. Maybe your boss wants the first draft back.
The save as shortcut key stops that problem. It lets you keep the old file and make a fresh copy with one quick press.
Here is the short answer. The save as shortcut key is F12 on Windows. On a Mac, it is Command + Shift + S.
Those keys work in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Other apps use different keys, so you will find a list below. You will also see how to fix a key that does nothing and how to set your own.
What Does the Save As Shortcut Key Do?
The save as shortcut key opens the Save As box. In that box, you can pick a new file name, a new folder, or a new file type. Then you click Save. Your first file stays safe, and the new copy holds your latest changes.
People use it to:
- Keep an old version before big edits
- Turn a Word file into a PDF
- Change an Excel sheet into a CSV file
- Send a copy without touching the original
- Move a file to a new folder
Save vs. Save As: A Common Mix-Up
Many web pages say Ctrl + S is the save as shortcut key. That is wrong. Ctrl + S only saves the file under its current name. It writes over the old version.
There is one small exception. If a file has never been saved, Ctrl + S opens the Save As box, because the file needs a name first.
Use this rule:
- Save (Ctrl + S or Command + S) updates the same file.
- Save As (F12 or Command + Shift + S) makes a new file or a new copy.
Save As Shortcut Key on Windows
On a Windows PC, the save as shortcut key is F12. It works in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Follow these steps:
- Open your file.
- Press F12.
- Type a new file name.
- Pick a folder.
- Choose a file type, such as .docx, .xlsx, or .pdf.
- Click Save.
Many laptops use the top row for volume and screen brightness. If F12 does nothing, hold the Fn key and press F12.
There is also a backup path. Press Alt, let go, then press F and then A. This opens Save As in most Office versions.
Save As Shortcut Key on Mac
The save as shortcut key on Mac is Command + Shift + S. It works in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Mac. Many other Mac apps use it too.
Apple’s own apps, such as TextEdit and Pages, can act in a different way. In those apps, hold the Option key and open the File menu. The word Duplicate changes to Save As. The shortcut there is Option + Shift + Command + S.
New to the Command and Option keys? Our list of Mac keyboard shortcuts covers the basics.
Save As Shortcut Key in Popular Apps
Each app has its own keys. Here are the common ones:
- Microsoft Word: F12 on Windows, Command + Shift + S on Mac
- Microsoft Excel: F12 on Windows, Command + Shift + S on Mac. For more time savers, see these Microsoft Excel shortcuts.
- PowerPoint: F12 on Windows, Command + Shift + S on Mac
- Notepad on Windows: Ctrl + Shift + S
- Notepad++: Ctrl + Alt + S
- Photoshop: Ctrl + Shift + S on Windows, Command + Shift + S on Mac
- Adobe Acrobat Reader: Ctrl + Shift + S on Windows
- VS Code: Ctrl + Shift + S on Windows, Command + Shift + S on Mac
- Chrome, Edge, and Firefox (to save a web page): Ctrl + S on Windows, Command + S on Mac
- Google Docs: No Save As key. Use File, then Make a copy.
How to Set Your Own Save As Shortcut Key
You do not have to live with the default keys. Here is how to pick your own.
In Word on Windows:
- Click File, then Options.
- Pick Customize Ribbon.
- Click Customize next to Keyboard shortcuts at the bottom.
- Under Categories, choose File Tab. Under Commands, choose FileSaveAs.
- Click the Press new shortcut key box and press your keys, such as Ctrl + Alt + A.
- Click Assign, then Close.
Word tells you if those keys are already in use. If so, pick another set.
In Excel on Windows:
Excel has no tool to assign keys to menu items. The easy fix is the Quick Access Toolbar.
- Click the small arrow at the end of the Quick Access Toolbar.
- Choose More Commands.
- Pick All Commands from the drop-down list.
- Select Save As, click Add, then click OK.
- Press Alt and look for the number over the new button. Press that number to open Save As.
Want to save a copy with code instead? See how Excel VBA SaveCopyAs works. It makes a copy without changing the file you have open.
What to Do When the Save As Shortcut Key Does Not Work
Do not worry if nothing happens. Try these fixes in order:
- Hold Fn and press F12, since your laptop may use the top row for other jobs.
- Look for an Fn Lock key on your keyboard. It switches the top row between media keys and F keys.
- Click inside your document first, so the app gets the key press and not another window.
- Close screen recorders or other tools that grab F12.
- In a web browser, F12 opens developer tools. Use Ctrl + S to save a page instead.
- In Excel, if F12 opens a big full-screen page instead of the small box, go to File, Options, Save. Tick the option named Don’t show the Backstage when opening or saving files with keyboard shortcuts. Then F12 gives you the classic box.
- Use File, then Save As, with your mouse to check that the app itself works.
- If the key itself is dead, this fix list for some keys on keyboard not working can help.
Smart Habits When You Use Save As
A few small habits keep your files clean:
- Add a date or version to the name, like Budget_v2 or Budget_2026-11-01.
- Check the file type before you click Save. Excel files with macros need .xlsm. Plain sheets use .xlsx.
- Look at the folder shown in the box. Many people save to the wrong place by accident.
- Use Save As before you start big edits, not after.
Quick Recap
Remember two key sets. F12 is for Windows, and Command + Shift + S is for Mac. Ctrl + S only saves. Press the right keys before a big edit, and you will always have a safe copy to go back to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut for Save As in Word?
On Windows, press F12. On a Mac, press Command + Shift + S. If F12 does nothing on your laptop, hold Fn and press F12.
Is Ctrl + Shift + S the save as shortcut key?
In many apps, yes. It works in Notepad, Photoshop, Acrobat Reader, and VS Code. In Word and Excel on Windows, stick with F12.
Does Ctrl + S work as Save As?
No. Ctrl + S saves your file under the same name. It only opens the Save As box when the file has no name yet.
Can I change the save as shortcut key?
Yes. In Word, you can assign your own keys in the Keyboard shortcuts menu. In Excel, add Save As to the Quick Access Toolbar and use Alt plus its number.
What is the save as shortcut key in Google Docs?
Google Docs has no Save As command. It saves your work on its own. To keep a separate version, click File, then Make a copy.
Why does F12 open the wrong thing on my computer?
Your laptop may treat F12 as a media key, or your browser may use it for developer tools. Try Fn + F12, or use the File menu.
